Teeeitoet



(No Model.) e

W. D. FARREN.

TELEGRAPH KEY.

No. 270,652. Patented Jan. 16,1883.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VYILLIAM D. FARREN, OF BOISE CITY, IDAHO TERRITORY.

TELEGRAPH KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,652, dated January16, 1883.

Application filed September 6, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. FARREN, of Boise City, in the countyofAda, and in the Territory of Idaho, haveinvented certain new anduseful Improvements in Telegraph-Keys. both in the manufacture and usethereof; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, forming part of this specification.

My invention consists in a telegraph operating-key constructed ofspring-steel or spring brass, the base and lever of the key forming anentirety.

Heretofore in constructing telegraph-keys it has been customary to hangthe key upon an axle which passed entirely through the keybody in achannel cut therein for that purpose, and to hold the key in place uponthe axle by means of a set-screw working in the mass of the key andimpinging upon the surface ofthe axle; or a plan has been followed inwhich the lever and base were two separate pieces of m aterial, thelever being attached to the base at the extremity of either piece bymeans of a joint which extends lengthwise the entire width of the baseof the key, the platinum points being midway between the knob and joint.In this latter process a movable knob is used to regulate the play ofthe lever. Gontinuous use of the knob for a short time has been found toresult in a wearing away of the parts, and the insurmountable objectionto the second style of key is here presented.

A key which will avoid the greatest obstacle to rapid and distincttelegraphy-a jarring of the partshas been a desideratum since theearliest days of the art. By means of my invention as described below itis evident that a key can be made the leverand base of which shall beone homogeneous piece of metal withoutjoint, connection, or attachedspring. The action of the key as a whole will be apparent from thefollowing description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing,showing the key with all its parts as plainly understood as it could bebydifi'erent sectional presentations.

.8 is the base of theinstrument, and A the (No model.)

lever, which is of the same material as the base and a continuation ofit, but narrower and bent over it at a height of about one inch, more orless. The knob end of the lever is bent downward until its lower surfaceis in the same plane with the base of the instrument. The surface of theknob is in the same plane with the surface of the lever.

S is the only adjusting-screw in the instrument. 7

P is the platinum -pointed screw with its lock-nut working on theplatinum point Q below, which is in the head or top of the frontbinding-screw or leg.

0 is the circuit-closer, attached to the base in a manner to preventaccident ll opening of the circuit, being closer to the arm when closedthan the circuit-closer of any previously used instrument, thisadvantage being secured by the peculiar construction of the key. Theknob K is immovable.

D is a small screw-head governing the opening of the circuit-closer andpreventing its being opened wider than would be desirable.

R is the back binding-screw or leg. It is screwed through the basebefore the lever has been bent over it.

It is evident that the construction of the key is easier and lessexpensive than that of eitherot' the other keys partially described inthis specification.

' I desire to reserve the right to manufacture this key with or withoutlegs.

Whatl claim as my inventiomand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A telegraph-key having the lever and base formed of a single piece ofspring metal, substantially as shown and described.

2. A telegraph-key, substantially as shown and described, consisting ofthe base B and lever A, formed ofa continuous piece of spring metal, andhaving the single adjusting-screw S.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand andseal this 29th day of June, 1882.

WM. D. FARRFAL [L.s.] Witnesses:

J AS. K. TAYLOR,

JOSEPH PERRAULT.

